Introduction:
Food preservation is an age-old concept that dates back to 1200 BC when people in the Middle East used to dry food items such as dates and fish to store them for a long time. Similarly, other techniques of food preservation were developed as human needs changed and technology evolved.
With the advancement in technology, food preservatives came into use. As food transportation and trade began, food preservation became even more crucial for people. As a result, food preservatives started being used for bulk storage. Bulk food preservation is used in food processing or industries to increase the shelf life of the food item.
New food processing techniques and new developments in the food processing and technology sector make use of food preservatives more and more effective and crucial to sustain the food business.
However, there were certain challenges concerning bulk food preservation. People, especially Food technologists in the food industries wanted a technique of food preservation that would not only increase the shelf life of bulk food but also prove to be cost-effective. The food processing business requires food preservation techniques to be reliable, safe, efficient, and cost-effective as well.
This is where trehalose as a food preservative comes into the picture. This article will walk you through the role of trehalose as a food preservative for bulk food preservation.
What are Food Preservatives? Let’s Begin With The Basics.
Food preservatives are simply put, food ingredients or additives that are incorporated in the food item to increase the shelf life of the food. These food preservatives prevent the growth of microorganisms in the food. Thus preventing spoilage of food and maintaining its taste, texture, flavor, and nutritional quality.
Trehalose A Magical Sugar – Remove Sugar Word – Instead of This Mention Something Else
Trehalose is a non-reducing sugar composed of two glucose molecules linked by a glycosidic bond. This naturally occurring disaccharide is found in a variety of organisms, such as mushrooms, bacteria, plants, etc. One of the most interesting properties of this incredible sugar is the ability to protect cells and biological structures such as protein and lipids from damage caused by dehydration, and heat.
Trehalose as a Food Preservative
In the food industry, trehalose has gained attention in recent times attributing to its capacity to enhance the shelf life of food products. Trehalose has the ability to stabilize proteins and lipids therefore acting as a preservative to enhance the quality of the food item. It is mainly used in processed foods such as baked foods,dried fruits, powdered spices. Trehalose also reduces the damaging and harmful effects of moisture loss during storage, thus preventing the food item from going stale and losing its flavor.
Trehalose How it Works?
Trehalose is also known as anhydrobiosis because it is synthesized by living organisms in response to prolonged desiccation. The production of trehalose in microorganisms contributes to the survival of the living organism even when it has lost approximately 99 percent of water.
Trehalose forms a protective layer around the lipid bilayer found in the cell membrane of the organism, thus helping the lipid to maintain its liquid form or phase even in the absence of water. Therefore trehalose helps to keep the cell membrane intact around the organism even during extreme dehydration.
As a result, the cells remain vital or alive and can be revived by the re-addition of some water.
Trehalose also plays a crucial role in cellular components such as proteins against denaturation that can be caused by oxidative stress.
Cost-Effectiveness of Trehalose as Preservatives
Trehalose works as a preservative that is also cost-effective. The cost-effectiveness of trehalose is explained with the help of various factors mentioned here.
1. Preservation Efficiency:
Trehalose is a very powerful food additive or ingredient that can protect the food item for a long time. It is an efficient food preservative as it preserves the desired qualities of the food item and enhances its shelf life. It helps to maintain the flavor and texture of dried food products efficiently so that the food can be stored in long-term storage.
2. Production Costs:
With the advancement in biotechnological techniques and processes, the production of trehalose has become very easy. Trehalose is industrially produced with the help of a two-enzyme method using starch as a substrate. Since starch is an easily available substrate at a low cost, the production cost of trehalose is significantly reduced. Buy trehalose powder from a reputed trehalose supplier can be manufactured using starch obtained from potato or tapioca. The cost of manufacturing trehalose, including the raw materials, processing, purification etc is feasible. Thus making trehalose a competitive cost effective preservative option.
3. Application Versatility:
Trehalose is used in a wide range of food products. As a result trehalose has a wide range of applications such as baked goods, confectionery, and frozen foods. This versatility of trehalose makes it suitable for several food items. Trehalose is a cost-effective food preservative because this single compound can be used across multiple product lines reducing overall expenses.
4. Regulatory Compliance:
Trehalose is a food preservative that is compliant with food safety regulations and labeling requirements. This property of trehalose adds to the overall cost of using trehalose. Since trehalose is a safe-to-use ingredient it is approved by several regulatory bodies across the globe. Therefore using trehalose obtained from a sustainable trehalose supplier is a cost-effective method.
Conclusion
Trehalose is a very efficient and promising food preservative for bulk food preservation. Since trehalose can be used in multiple food items its production cost is also feasible. It makes trehalose a good and cost-effective option for preserving food at a bulk level. The long-term benefits of trehalose as a preservative such as its overall cost, multidimensional application, ease of production, and efficacy make it a preferred option for food preservation.
As research and technology are advancing day by day, trehalose has a high chance of becoming a staple or common additive in various food preservation techniques. Thus catering to the ever-evolving demand for a sustainable and efficient food processing industry. Therefore trehalose should be procured from a reliable trehalose supplier.
